Panic pushed at Daphne’s chest when she realized he meant to stay here and face Zeus’s evil Sirens alone. She darted in his way, blocking his exit toward the hall. “I’m not leaving you.”
He glared down at her. “Too fucking bad. You don’t have a choice in this.”
He tried to step around her but she moved in front of him again. “Yes, I do. I said I’m not leaving, and I’m not.”
His jaw clenched down hard. His eyes flickered. She could feel the insanity bubbling just under his control, but she wasn’t backing down. She hadn’t been there when her village had been attacked. She wasn’t leaving Ari now to the same fate.
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” she said again.
“Yes, you are.” His eyes flashed to black and held. “The Sirens trained you well, female. You were a good fuck and a decent distraction, but I don’t have time for your games anymore, and the last thing I need is another person hanging on me, hoping for something I don’t have the power to give them. I ditched my son for way less than you, so don’t think for a minute that you’re anything special. I don’t want you anymore. Deal with it and get lost. All of you.”
Daphne’s mouth fell open, but he stepped past her before she could stop him.
Long, silent seconds passed. No one in the room spoke.
“We can’t go to Olympus,” Sappheire finally said quietly. “Athena will never side with us, not against Zeus. Not even if she knows about his secret sect. We wouldn’t be safe there.”
“We can’t stay here,” Silas said.
“No, we can’t,” Sappheire answered.
“I know who can help us.” Strength gathered inside Daphne as she turned to face them. A strength she hadn’t even known she possessed until just this very moment. “A Siren who would never say no to an Argonaut in need.”
Sappheire’s brow lowered. “You’re talking about Skyla.”
Daphne nodded.
Sappheire’s jaw clenched. “She hates me.”
“Doesn’t matter. She’s bound to an Argonaut. She’ll be able to get the help we need.”
Sappheire and Silas exchanged glances, then Sappheire looked back at her. “Are you sure about this? If we do this, they’ll find out he’s still alive, and he clearly doesn’t want that.”
“I’m more than sure. That little speech of his was complete bullshit. He might say he knows what he wants, but I know what he needs. We’re not leaving him to Zeus alone.”
“Well done, nymph.” A slow smile spread across Silas’s face. “Very well done.”
CHAPTER TEN
“Come on.” Cerek tapped his palm against his bare chest then held his arms out wide. “Hit me. Ever since you and Skyla were bound, you fight like a *.”
A low chuckle rumbled from Orpheus across the mat, rising in the ancient gymnasium toward the upper seating levels of the oval-shaped stadium that showcased some of Tiyrns greatest sporting matches. The Argonaut tipped his head and shot Cerek a pointed look. “I know you’re scared of females and all, big guy, but let me tell ya a secret. Pussies don’t fight. The good ones give nothing but pleasure.”
Cerek swiped the sweat out of his eyes with the back of his marked forearm and scowled. He wasn’t afraid of females. His reasons for avoiding them were his own and no one else’s. But just the fact Orpheus seemed to make it his personal mission in life to razz Cerek about his lack of female companionship only fueled Cerek’s desire for blood. “Fine, then you fight like a fucking girl.”
“My girl’s a Siren.” Orpheus grinned as he dropped his bare shoulder and shifted his feet on the mat. “Or was. She’d take that as a compliment.”
Orpheus charged and plowed his shoulder into Cerek’s ribs. Locking his arms behind Cerek’s back, he lifted Cerek off the floor. Air whooshed over Cerek’s spine just before he cracked hard into the mat. Pain spiraled across his back, but before Orpheus could get the upper hand, Cerek flipped Orpheus to his stomach, grabbed the back of Orpheus’s head, and slammed the Argonaut’s face into the ground.
“Son of a fucking...” Orpheus shoved his elbow hard into Cerek’s ribs, knocking Cerek back a step. “That’s my godsdamn nose, you prick.”
“Let me guess.” Skyla’s voice echoed from the doorway that disappeared beneath the spectator area. “My mate was giving you a hard time.”
Cerek pushed upright and glanced toward the former Siren. Skyla’s blonde hair hung in a sleek wave past her shoulders, and her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched her mate roll to his back and pinch his nose to stop the gush of blood.
“I warned you not to taunt him,” Skyla said to Orpheus. “Clearly, you didn’t listen. Again.”
A goofy grin slid across Orpheus’s face as he peered up at Cerek. One that told Cerek loud and clear that the bastard had intentionally pushed him right to the edge just for the fun of it. “It’s not really a workout if it doesn’t get the blood pumping.”
Fucking idiot. Orpheus was a deadly warrior in battle, but he liked to stir the shit at home. He always had.